Methods and Systems for Efficient Automatic Slide Staining in Immunohistochemistry Sample Processing

Abstract

Automated sample processing systems may include onboard efficient high-speed mixing of at least two components with an automatic vertical force fluidic turbulent component mixer of which a mixed component may be aspirated and high-speed dispensed in a mixing vial. Other aspects may include single sweep applying a multi-treatment cleaning cycle to at least one slide. A multi-treatment cleaning cycle may include a washing treatment and a drying treatment. In yet other aspects the present invention may include an automated recovery sample processing system with the capability of detecting at least one immediate condition of a fortuitously terminated automatic sample processing run and perhaps even an automatic terminated sample processing run reconstruction calculator.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present inventive technology, in embodiments, includes effective and efficient methods and systems relating to automatic slide staining in sample processing. Automatic slide stainer systems may be used to process a diversity of stains on various samples perhaps even simultaneously under computer control. Various staining procedures have been developed over the years to highlight various cellular or extracellular components of samples. Histochemical stains may employ chemical reactions to color various chemical moieties. Immunohistochemical stains may employ antibodies as probes to color specific proteins, perhaps through enzymatic deposition of a colored precipitate. The stains may therefore require the addition and removal of reagents in a defined sequence for specific time periods at perhaps even defined temperatures. Sample processing in immunohistochemical (“IHC”) applications, for example and in other chemical and biological analyses may inv...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]The present invention may provide an automated slide stainer using a suite of advanced technologies making it the intelligent choice for increased productivity and turn around time. It is an object of certain embodiments of the present invention technology to provide effective component combination in an automatic slide staining system such as for example in mixing stain components prior to application to a sample.

[0007]It is an object of certain embodiments of the present invention technology to provide efficient and perhaps even enhanced cleaning of a sample carrier such as a slide.

Problems solved by technology

Even when performed automatically, there have been inefficiencies in past systems.

However, such previous efforts may not have fully addressed certain specific needs for an automated sample processing system.

Shortcomings of conventional technologies relating to sample processing systems may include: the lack of a dependable system recovery, the lack of optimal reagent mixing in an automated process, the lack of efficient and effective slide cleaning, and perhaps even the lack of adequate detection of various aspects of an automation system.

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